MacSparky Book Report: Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari

Because I’m spending so much time with artificial intelligence lately, and because it seems to be such an interesting topic for podcast listeners and MacSparky Labs members alike, I decided to read Nexus: A Brief History of Information Networks by Yuval Noah Harari. It’s an intriguing book, not because Harari is a computer scientist or a technology enthusiast, but because he’s a historian. His focus is on how societal change is so often triggered by shifts in information networks.

Harari walks through key moments in history where the way we share and process information radically changed. He shares such examples as the printing press, the telegraph, and radio, and how these inventions reshaped societies in ways that were often unexpected. One example that stood out to me was how, contrary to what we might assume, the printing press initially fueled witch hunts more than it did the scientific revolution. The broader theme of the book is that when information systems change, societies change. Predicting the exact nature of that change, however, is nearly impossible.

We are now heading into another seismic shift, but this one feels different. For the first time, the technology itself is intelligent enough to operate independently. A printing press, for example, only printed the words that humans put into it. Artificial intelligence, on the other hand, can generate new ideas, new writings, and even new perspectives. This creates enormous opportunities, but also significant risks.

One of the key takeaways from Nexus is that every major transition in information networks has led to unintended consequences, some good, some bad. The book left me with mixed feelings about AI. My early experiments with it have shown me how much it can improve productivity and human connections when used correctly. But unlike nuclear research, AI isn’t confined to a few high-security labs; it can be developed anywhere. That makes it incredibly difficult to regulate on a global scale, and history suggests we need to be wary of unforeseen consequences.

The book doesn’t offer answers, but it does prompt big questions. If you’re interested in understanding how our current AI moment fits into the larger arc of history, Nexus is well worth your time.

Apple’s AI Woes

For years now I’ve been writing and talking about the trouble with Siri. This problem became even more acute for Apple with the rise of large language models (LLMs) and the world’s collective realization at just how useful a smart artificial intelligence can be.

Last June, it seemed as if Apple finally found religion about making Siri better. At WWDC 2024 they outlined the “Apple Intelligence” strategy that made a lot of sense. While I never expected Apple to build something on par with one of the frontier models, like ChatGPT, I continue to think they don’t need to. If Apple’s AI could remain private and access all my data, that alone makes it more useful than most artificial intelligence. Moreover, as the platform owner, a smart Siri could act as an AI traffic cop, sending more complex requests to the appropriate outside models.

So I think Apple has the right vision, but I’m starting to question their ability to execute on it. Apple has yet to release even a beta of the iOS 18 version with, as one Apple employee explained to me, the “Siri Brain Transplant.” Indeed, Apple recently announced that the advanced Siri features won’t ship in iOS 18 after all. So the brain transplant has been postponed.

Late last year, there was a rumor that Apple is working separately on an LLM-Siri for iOS 19 that will really show how good Siri can be. The fact that there is already a rumor of a new thing when we don’t yet have the improved old thing doesn’t inspire confidence.

It gets worse, though. Mark Gurman, a reliable source, ​now reports the new LLM Siri is also behind​ and its conversational features may not release to consumers until 2027. Ugh. If true, Apple’s failure to deliver on Siri is epic at the Apple Maps and MobileMe launch levels.

The current LLM leaders are evolving weekly. Can you imagine how good they are going to be by 2027? I honestly can’t.

If these rumors are true, Apple is in trouble. It’s not the 1995 Apple-will-they-go-out-of-business-trouble, but it is trouble nonetheless. ​M.G. Siegler suggests​ that if Apple truly is this far behind, they should just default to ChatGPT until they can get their act together. That would be incredibly embarrassing for Apple, but this whole situation is exactly that. It looks like Apple’s AI initiative has a long way to go. Back in the day when the MobilMe launch failed so miserably, people joked that Steve Jobs was walking through the hallways at Cupertino with a flame thrower strapped to his back asking everyone he met, “Do you work on MobileMe?”. When it comes to AI, I think Apple is approaching a flame thrower moment. ​John Gruber agrees​.

Google’s AI Search Mode: What It Means for Users and Creators

Google recently announced the integration of an AI Mode into its search engine, powered by the Gemini 2.0 model. This update aims to provide more advanced and conversational responses directly in the search results.

Frankly, I’m not surprised. The only surprise is that it took Google this long. ChatGPT has had a similar feature for a while, and Perplexity is entirely built around this concept. The old Google search model — where you get a list of links and manually sift through them — is starting to feel outdated. It’s much easier to type a question and have AI read the web for you, distilling an answer. Clearly, Google sees the writing on the wall.

While AI search is convenient, it raises an important question: Should we rely solely on AI-generated answers, or should we take the time to review the original sources?

A good AI-powered search experience should transparently cite sources and allow users to verify the information themselves. Without clear attribution, there’s a risk of misinformation or misinterpretation. As consumers, we should demand better citation methods and more transparency from these AI search engines.

As for content creators like me, there is a risk in this transition. If AI summarizes my article but users never visit my website, site traffic drops. And when traffic drops, so does monetization and eventually the lights go out. Google claims that its AI-generated overviews will increase curiosity and drive more traffic to original sources, but I’m skeptical. (AP News)

Right now, I don’t have any easy answers for how creators should adapt. The entire ecosystem —advertising, subscriptions, and direct engagement —could shift significantly as AI search becomes more dominant.

Getting back to the point though, AI-powered search is where things are headed, and Google’s involvement solidifies that fact. But as both users and creators, we need to be mindful of transparency, accuracy, and the sustainability of the web.

Timing is Your Silent Partner in Productivity (Sponsor)

This week, MacSparky is delighted to feature Timing, the premier automatic time-tracking app for Mac users. Unlike traditional timers that require manual activation, Timing works seamlessly in the background, meticulously recording your activity across apps, websites, and documents. This ensures you gain an accurate and comprehensive overview of how your time is allocated, enabling you to identify productivity patterns and areas for improvement. Looking at your Timing log will let you know exactly what went down if your day ever gets away from you.

AI summaries show you how you spend your time

Key Features of Timing

  • Automatic Tracking: No need to remember to start or stop timers. Timing automatically logs your activities, capturing every detail without manual intervention.
  • Detailed Insights: Review precise data on the duration spent on specific applications, documents, or websites. For instance, distinguish between time dedicated to a client proposal in Word versus casual browsing on retail sites.
  • AI-Powered Summaries: Leverage artificial intelligence to receive concise summaries of your daily activities, helping you quickly grasp where your time goes without sifting through extensive logs.
  • Team Functionality: Timing also has teams support. Collaborate effortlessly by sharing projects, while managers can view aggregated time reports. Importantly, individual privacy is respected, as only manual time entries are visible to supervisors, ensuring a non-intrusive tracking environment.
  • Integration and Automation: Timing offers seamless integration with various tools and supports automation through features like Siri Shortcuts and a web API, enhancing your workflow efficiency.
  • Web App Access: Access your Timing data from anywhere using the Timing web app. Start and stop timers on the go, manage your team, and integrate with other services, ensuring flexibility and control over your time tracking.

Understanding how you spend your time is the first step toward enhanced productivity. By providing an unobtrusive and precise tracking system, Timing empowers you to make informed decisions about your time.

Apple’s New Child Safety Update: A Step in the Right Direction

Apple recently posted a white paper called Helping Protect Kids Online, where, among other things, they disclosed an upcoming software update that will make it easier to set up child accounts and provide age ranges to developers. I am sure part of the reason for this is pending legislation making platform owners and software developers more responsible for keeping kids out of apps they shouldn’t be in.

The dangers of social media for children are well documented in Jonathan Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation. Haidt dives deep into how social media has contributed to rising anxiety and mental health struggles among young people. I’d recommend anybody interested in this topic give that book a read.

Social media companies have been doing a lot of finger-pointing at Apple and Google, arguing that platform owners should be responsible for ensuring that children don’t access inappropriate apps. Their claim is that the platform owner is in the best position to determine the age of the user. I’d agree with that.

However, I don’t think platform owners are exclusively responsible for fixing this problem. Indeed, part of me thinks that Facebook had better be careful what it wishes for. If Apple goes through with this update — and I fully expect them to — we will have a reliable age verification system on these devices. That means companies like Meta will have no excuse to claim they didn’t know children were using their applications.

I’m generally very privacy-sensitive, but in this case, I think the trade-off is worth it. Yes, Apple and app developers will know your age range, but at least we’ll have a system in place to help avoid the problems outlined in The Anxious Generation. I’m glad Apple is taking steps in this regard. But this isn’t just Apple’s responsibility. Other participants in this (specifically, social media companies and parents) need to do their part as well.

For parents, this is a good reminder to take an active role in your child’s online experience. With Apple making it easier to set up child accounts and manage access, now is the time to familiarize yourself with these tools. Technology can help, but ultimately, it’s a combination of smart tools and engaged parenting that will make the biggest difference.